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Public Safety credited for readiness, training by Cindy Abole Public Relations As the hail of semiautomatic gunfire rang out from assailants in the humid dawn of July 10, five MUSC Public Safety officers braced themselves for their next move and strategy. Each individual's response would challenge the knowledge, experience and instinct that has been part of his daily routine since he were sworn in as an MUSC Public Safety officer.   Last week's incident at the edge of MUSC's campus not only teamed the expertise of MUSC Public Safety and Charleston City Police Department officers, but it also provided a sobering reminder of the risks in law enforcement and preparation required by specialists involved in the line of fire.   “Our officers responded in the manner they should have responded, and that's because of their training,” said Capt. David McMakin, operations commander, MUSC Department of Public Safety. “A person will respond based on the quality of training that we do. If their reaction is to stop and think, it may be too late. We train them to develop their instinct.”   Key to this strategy of readiness and success is a nationally-recognized training program conducted by skilled, accredited leaders who are experts in their fields. What's surprising is that their identity as a special purpose agency rather than a traditional law enforcement agency is respected among law enforcement at the state, national and international levels.    “We provide more training than other campus law enforcement agencies throughout the state,” said Tom Brown, acting chief of the Department of Public Safety. “Our excellence in bicycle patrol training, legal issues training, firearms and police academy training rivals the country's best programs.”   “The level of training that we perform within our department in a year exceeds what most agencies usually complete within three or four years,” McMakin said. “So if we didn't train as much as we do, when it's time to respond, our response wouldn't be appropriate. ”   The department, like most area law enforcement agencies, enjoys a good relationship with neighboring police agencies. For MUSC, its cooperation extends to Charleston City Police Chief Reuben Greenberg and the Charleston force.    “It's a two-way street,” McMakin said. “If we've ever needed something from Charleston police, all we need to do is pick up the phone and call to make the request. Chief Greenberg has been gracious in sharing the downtown turf with us and has relied on us to assist as we do with him. It's important that we have that kind of  working relationship.”   All public safety or law enforcement officers are required to complete formal training at the South Carolina Police Academy in Columbia. Part of the nine-week program provides training on firearms handling, emergency driving and paperwork. The remaining half of their training is devoted to legal issues, constitutional statutes and specific laws concerning such topics as domestic violence, rape, sexual assault, some traffic and minor offenses in the criminal code book.   The academy complements other statewide academy programs in Georgia, North Carolina and New York.          At MUSC, recruits also must complete a 40-hour state constables course, a prerequisite to the  state's justice academy. The week-long course is taught by McMakin, training and bike patrol coordinator Sgt. Ashley Foster and other academy-certified instructors. Participants are introduced to a variety of subjects from the use of firearms, baton and pressure point control tactics to a primer on constitutional law, search and seizure, officer safety basics and searches and pursuits.    At the core of training is the department's accreditation and compliance with the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA) and specialized training through their field training program.     “Accreditation under CALEA was the best thing our department has done,” McMakin said. “It has helped to standardize the way we do business with our counterparts—Charleston City Police Department, Mount Pleasant Police, Charleston Airport Police and other special duty and standard law enforcement agencies who operate under these standards. “National standards enforce the practice of these policies and procedures.”   Established in 1996, the Field Training Officer Program was three years in place before formal accreditation with CALEA in 1999. The intense eight-week program is conducted immediately after a recruit graduates from the academy. Modeled after the San Jose Police Department's program, the country's first program to offer this level of concise training, it follows the training of an officer completing specific assignments and utilizing qualified trainers.                 Officers are oriented to the campus' four-block, 61-acre area and learn the university's organization. Recruits log their training in a checklist that must be signed and approved by their training instructors. By the end of each week, McMakin reviews the entries to determine if any remedial training is necessary. A portion of this training focuses on 30 of 102 key law enforcement policies from operating a vehicle; chain of command, use of force, to the discipline system.   The field training program was established to prepare officers for the formal board review, which usually consists of three-to-five staff officers. The review is like a cumulative test based on all training conducted during the field training program. The review exercise can last from 30 minutes to two or three hours depending on the recruit's response.    “Its really much more than just test memorization,” McMakin said. “We want to challenge the officer to review and interpret the law.”   Additional department training focuses on legal updates, specifically addressing the results of Supreme Court rulings, monthly crime reports from the academy and e-mail alerts regarding CALEA-related issues.   Brown credits a long-standing history of universitywide support and progressive foresight. “We share excellent support through the Division of Finance and Administration and the President's Office,” Brown said. “Dr. Sutusky and Dr. Greenberg have both recognized the efforts and talents of our staff.”   As for the department's future in the millennium, Brown wants its goal to continue to be progressive.    As the department moves forward in improving communications through the planned replacement of campus call boxes, security cameras enhanced police radio communications transitioning to the 800 megahertz radio systems, and other equipment, they hope to expand into the latest technologies available to improve card access and other affordable systems that reflect on good planning by the department—a philosophy that revisits CALEA standards for support and maintenance of an organization's strategic plan.    Brown has also set his sites on the department's future involvement and accreditation with the International Accreditation of Campus Law Enforcement Association.   Bike patrol's friendliness, expertise recognized Keeping MUSC safe, as well as the surrounding neighborhoods is a massive undertaking. For a corps of Public Safety officers, it also requires good communications skills and training.   It's not uncommon for Public Safety officers to patrol beyond the campus’ boundaries. And while on patrol, they're more likely to be stopped by area residents who want to talk or confide relevant information that contributes to a safe and alert community.   “We'd be very negligent of our duties if we got an emergency call and didn't respond because it was not in our jurisdiction,” said Capt. David McMakin, operations commander, Department of Public Safety. MUSC officers are usually the first people to arrive at the scene of traffic accidents and other emergencies within the vicinity. Officers assist in securing traffic, calling for emergency or medical services or providing other support until city police or other staff with jurisdiction arrives.   “In this little four-block area, people need police,” McMakin said. “What they're more likely to see first is us, whether they’re MUSC personnel, students or city residents. We provide our services to everyone.”   The idea steps back 40 years ago to an era in America when policemen were respected and trusted as a friend assigned to a specific beat or area of town. He got to know people and faces within his community as they learned all about him. It's a concept known as community-oriented policing.    Around MUSC's campus, this same image is slowly emerging among Public Safety’s bicycle patrol.   “People aren't afraid to speak out when something is wrong,”McMakin said. “Right now, bicycle officers are able to get around more than ever before.” According to McMakin, a foot patrol officer can cover one city block in about an hour. By comparison, a bike officer is able to effectively cover the same territory in five-minutes and then move on. Area citizens are more likely to notice bike patrol officers quicker than a foot patrol officer.   “Bikes are much more approachable and open,” said Sgt. Ashley Foster, training and bike patrol coordinator for MUSC Public Safety.”Even our bike officer uniforms—consisting of a grey sports shirt, a bike helmet and bicycle shorts—don't have a formal, authoritative look. Lots of people are more likely to talk to us.”   Of the 37 sworn Public Safety officers, 24 are certified as bike officers, although some work in positions that do not require that they ride. Today, it is specified to newly recruited officers that their work will eventually include bike duty.    It has come a long way since 1992, when the first bike patrol was established using abandoned bikes rounded up on campus and flashlights.    Formal training for bike patrol officers began in 1994, merging an intense 40-hour course certified by the International Police Mountain Bike Association.    Today, Foster is the state's only certified mountain bike patrol instructor. The five-year veteran has taught students from every Lowcountry law enforcement agency with a bike patrol and individuals from Australia, Ireland, Scotland and throughout the United States.    “MUSC’s work is so intertwined with Lowcountry law enforcement.” Foster said, regarding the sharing of expertise and quality of training. “Our efforts keep officers and instructors sharp, allowing them to learn from the perspective of outside agencies. Most people don't understand that MUSC has ties to just about every agency out here through training.”